Vacuum cleaner



VACUUM CLEANER Filed April 19, 1957 Jan; 28, 1941.

Fig. 3

Wilma-s3 M $73M Patented "3111138, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VACUUM CLEANER Application April 19, 1937, Serial No. 137,611

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to vacuum cleaners, and more particularly to that type of cleaner inwhich a hand cleaner is demountably supported on a carriage whereby such a cleaner it may be used either as a hand cleaner or as a floor or traveling cleaner, at the option of the operator.

The present invention represents an improvement upon the convertible hand and floor cleaner forming the subject-matter of Patent No.

10 2,070,986, issued February 16, 1937. In that patent there is described a wheeled carriage upon which a hand vacuum cleaner may be mounted to provide a vacuum cleaner for floor work, the hand cleaner being readily demountable for use as a it separate hand operated cleaning unit.

A disadvantage in the arrangement described in the above patent results from the fact that the nozzleof the hand cleaner is also used for floor work. Due to the difference in mode of operation 20 and in type of material to be cleaned, thesiae and shape and arrangement of the nozzle which is best suited for use on a hand cleaning unit is not well adapted for use in floor work on such materials as rugs and carpets.

li'he object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner of the above type which shall be of improved construction and arrangement, whereby the efliciency of the cleaner will be improved and its operation facilitated.

l Another object of the invention is to provide a wheeled carriage upon which a hand vacuum cleaner may be mounted for use as a traveling cleaner, such carriage being provided with a nozale particularly adapted for floor work and having .lii provision for connection with the suction devices of the hand cleaner.

With these objects in view, a feature of the present invention comprises a wheeled carriage to which may be secured a hand vacuum cleaner,

lll the carriage having a propelling handle for moving the cleaner over the work, and a supplementary floobengaging nozzle in communication with the suction "devices of the hand cleaner when the latter is mounted on the carriage.

4-l Other objects and features of the present in-- vention will be apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation illustrating the carriage with the hand 50 cleaner mounted thereon, a portion of the nozzle cf the hand cleaner and the supplementary nozllllE of the carriage being shown in section; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the carriage illustrated in ti le. 1, with the hand cleaner removed; Fig. 3 is 55 a front detail elevation, partly in section, of the supplementary nozzle and a portion of the hand cleaner nozzle positioned thereon; Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view in side elevation of a modified form of supplemental nozzle, showing a portion of the hand cleaner nozzle; and Fig. 5 is a detail 5 sectional view in side elevation of a third form of supplemental nozzle.

The hand vacuum cleaner or cleaning unit shown in Fig. 1 is of the common and well-known type having a substantially cylindrical horizontal motor casing 8 and a fan casing I0, to the inlet of which is connected the cleaning nozzle l2, and to the outlet of which is attached the usual dust bag I6. The cleaner is provided with an electric connection or cord I8 and the small handle 20 suitable for use in operating the device as a hand cleaner. A switch 2| is provided for controlling the operation of the motor.

According to the present invention, the cleaner may be mounted on a wheeled carriage to permit its use in the same manner as the conventional larger traveling cleaner. This carriage comprises a supporting plate 22, the major portion of which is of generally cylindrical form to partially embrace the motor housing 8. The plate is provided with rubber buttons or spacers 24 to present scratching or marking of the finished surface of the cleaner by contact with the metal plate and also to space the motor casing slightly from the plate for purposes of ventilation.

The motor housing is secured to the plate by means of a spring clip 26 riveted to the plate at 21 and adapted to tightly embrace somewhat over one-half the circumference of the housing. The hand unit may thus be readily mounted on and removed from the carriage without requiring manipulation of clamping mechanism.

The rear portion of the plate 22 departs from the cylindrical shape of the front portion and terminates in a curved portion 28 surrounding an axle 30 and freely movable thereon. The propelling and guiding handle comprises the conventlonal tubular handle a portion of which is indicated at 32 secured to the carriage at its lower end by means of a yoke 34, the arms of which pivotally embrace the axle adjacent the plate.

It will be seen in Fig. 2 that the rear portion of the plate 22 is flared outwardly at both sides to lie directly in front of the arms of the yoke 34, as indicated at 36, serving as a stop to limit the swinging movement of the hand with respect to the cleaner carriage, both upwardly and downwardly. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the limit of the forward movement is determined by the angle of the oblique face 31 on the arms of the yoke and the rearward movement by the shoulder 38. Thus free normal swinging movement of the handle is permitted for pushing and pulling the cleaner over the floor, at the same time providing for holding the handle upright and also for lifting the nozzle from the floor when the handle is lowered.

A pair of wheels 39 are mounted on opposite ends of the axle 30, being retained on the axle by any suitable means, illustrated in the drawing as screws 40 in the ends, of the axle.

The carriage is provided with a supplementary or floor nozzle 42 secured to the plate 22 by means of a yoke 44 of spring steel, the ends of the arms of the yoke being attached to the nozble 42 by screws 46, while the apex of the yoke is fastened to the plate 22 by rivets 48. In order to secure adequate stiffness in the yoke without requiring the use of thick and heavy material, longitudinal ribs 41 have been formed in the yoke arms.

The nozzle 42 is provided with a long narrow vertical air passage, the upper portion of which is of substantially the same dimensions as the inside of the nozzle l2 of the hand cleaner, while the lower portion of the passage adjacent the work is substantially extended to provide a mouth considerably greater than that of the hand nozzle, as illustrated in Fig. 3, so as to permit the cleaning of a much wider area than would be possible if the hand cleaner nozzle made direct contact with the floor work.

The work contacting face of the supplementary nozzle 42 is provided with lips 50 of substantially greater width than the lips of the nozzle of the hand cleaner, to allow the nozzle to be moved over relatively rough work, such as rugs and carpets, without catching or jumping, which would tend to loosen and displace the cleaner on the carriage.

To aid in securing a satisfactory sealing against air leakage between the hand cleaner nozzle 02 and the supplementary nozzle 42, an insert 52 of soft rubber is provided in the upper surface of the nozzle 42. In addition, the arms of the yoke 44 are so arranged that when the motor housing is forced into place on the plate 22, the supplementary nozzle is held up 'firmly against the hand cleaner nozzle t2, the use of the two arms permitting slight angular adjustment to compensate for inaccuracy or variations in the position of the motor housing on the plate.

To render the supplementary nozzle more effective in cleaning deep pile fabrics and in picking up pieces of string, thread, etc., the forward wall of the nozzle 42 is provided with a slot 53 extending substantially the length of the nozzle and adapted to deliver a stream of air approximately parallel to the surface being cleaned and adjacent the mouth of the nozzle. Such air stream tends to bend the fibre of the pile and to open up the fabric, resulting in dislodging threads, hairs, or the like, and permitting the withdrawal of dust and dirt. It will be observed that the forward wall is of increased thickness to provide adequate strength for the front lip 54.

The form of nozzle illustrated in Fig. l is preferred where the hand cleaner nozzle is provided with a fixed brush 56 and a rubber guard or bumper 58, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. Where the hand cleaner is not equipped with the brush and guard, a modified form of floor nozzle may be employed. For example, as illustrated in Fig. 4 the supplementary nozzle 60 on the carriage is provided with a ridge 62 forwardly of and extending above the surface of the rubber seal 64. This ridge serves as a guide or stop to position or locate the nozzle of the hand cleaner on the carriage, and also prevents the displacement of the cleaner on the carriage in a forward direction in case the supplementary nozzle 60 strikes an obstruction.

Another modification illustrated in Fig. 5 comprises a floor nozzle 66 having a recess in its upper side with the encircling wall 61 for the reception of the nozzle l2 of the hand cleaner, a ring or gasket 68 of soft rubber effectively sealing the joint as a result of the wedging action which.

takes place as the nozzle [2 is forced down into the recess.

By the provision on the carriage of a supplementary nozzle especially designed and adapted for floor work, where the material operated upon, and the mode of actuating and controlling the cleaner are essentially difl'erent from hand use, a much more efficient and conveniently operated cleaner is provided than where the same single nozzle is employed for both classes of work, as in the prior patent above referred to. Not only can a much wider nozzle measured transversely of the longitudinal axis of the cleaner be used, thereby greatly expediting the floor cleaning operation, due to the greater width or area cleaned on each passage of the cleaner, but the best design of nozzle for each class of work may be adopted.

For example, the supplementary nozzle shown in the drawing is provided with a supplementary air inlet for supplying air on the top of the work adjacent the suction mouth which is particularly effective for cleaning floor coverings. Other forms and designs may be embodied in this supplementary nozzle on the carriage without in any way interfering with the eflicient use of the hand cleaner as such with its own nozzle designed especially for the character of the work and conditions of operation in hand use.

While the drawing shows and the specification describes what is now considered to be the preferred form of the present invention, it is to be understood that it is not limited thereto but may be embodied in other forms and arrangements of parts within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

l. A carriage for adapting for floor work a hand vacuum cleaner provided with a motor housing and a nozzle, the carriage having means for receiving the motor housing and being provided with floor engaging means for supporting the rear portion of the cleaner in spaced relation to the floor, and a supplementary floor-contacting nozzle carried by the carriage in position to be engaged by the nozzle of the hand cleaner for supporting the front portion of the cleaner in spaced relation to the floor, said supplementary floor contacting nozzle having cleaning characteristics modified from those of said hand cleaner nozzleto adapt said hand cleaner for floor work.

2. A carriage for adapting for floor work a hand vacuum cleaner provided with a motor housing and a-nozzle, comprising a, member adapted to support the housing, an axle carried by the supporting member at the rear thereof, wheels on the axle for supporting the rear portion of the member in spaced relation to the floor, a handle associated with the support for moving the cleaner over the work, and a supplementary floor-contacting nozzle yieldingly secured to the supporting member at the front thereof for supporting the front portion of the member in spaced relation to the floor and adapted to engage the nozzle of the hand cleaner when said cleaner is mounted on the carriage.

3. A carriage for adapting for floor work a hand vacuum cleaner provided with a motor housing and a nozzle, comprising a member adapted to support the housing, an axle carried by the support at the rear thereof, wheels on the axle for supporting the rear portion of the support in spaced relation to the floor, a handle associated with the support for moving the cleaner over the work, and a supplementary nozzle on the support for supporting the front thereof in spaced relation to the floor and adapted to be engaged by the nozzle of the hand cleaner, said supplementary nozzle having a suction mouth of substantially greater width transversely of the line of movement of the cleaner over the work than the width of the nozzle of the hand cleaner.

4. A carriage for adapting for floor work a hand vacuum cleaner provided with a motor housing and a nozzle, comprising a member adapted to support the housing, an axle carried by the support, wheels on the axle for support ing the rear portion of the cleaner in spaced relation to the floor, a handle associated with the support for moving the cleaner over the work, a supplementary floor-contacting'nozzle mounted on the support for supporting the front end thereof in spaced relation to the floor and provided with resilient material to afford sealing contact with the nozzle of the hand cleaner when said cleaner is mounted on the carriage, said supplementary floor-contacting nozzle having cleaning characteristics modified from those of said hand cleaner nozzle to adapt said hand cleaner for floor work, and means for clamping the cleaner to the support and pressing the noz zle forcibly against the resilient material.

5. A carriage for adapting ,for floor work a hand; vacuum cleaner provided with a motor housing and a nozzle, the carriage comprising a member adapted to support the housing, an axle carried by thesupport, wheels on the axle for supporting the rear portion of the carriage in spaced relation to the floor, a handle assoover the work, and a supplementary floor-contacting nozzle mounted on the support and having provision for engagement with the hand cleaner for supporting the front portion of the carriage in spaced relation to the floor, said supplementary floor-contacting nozzle having cleaning characteristics modified from those of the hand cleaner nozzle to adapt said hand cleaner for floor work and having an abutment adapted to be engaged by the nozzle of the hand cleaner for positioning the hand cleaner on the carriage and for maintaining registration of the nozzles.

6. A carriage lforv adapting for floor work a hand vacuum cleaner provided with a motor housing and a nozzle, the carriage comprisinga member adapted to support the housing, an axle carried by the support, wheels on the axle for supporting the rear portion of the support in spaced relation to the floor, a handle associated with the support for moving the cleaner over the work, a. supplementary floor-contacting nozzle mounted on the support for supporting the front portion thereof in spaced relation to thefioor and having provision for communication with the nozzle of the hand cleaner, said supplementary floor-contacting nozzle having cleaning characteristics modified from those of the hand cleaner nozzle to adapt said hand cleaner for floor work and being recessed to receive and position the nozzle of the hand cleaner, and resilient means for sealing said hand cleaner nozzle in the recess.

BENJAMIN S. FOSS.

ciated with the support for moving the cleaner 

